"The irony wasn't lost on Sami Salo.

Last weekend, his seven-year old son played in a local hockey tournament and won bronze. Not gold. Just like his dad, who's still searching for that elusive reward at end of the NHL rainbow. Oliver Salo was obviously elated at his accomplishment and can't wait to watch his dad compete for the Stanley Cup starting tonight at Rogers Arena. And apparently, Oliver is worth watching, too.

"That was big tournament and their Stanley Cup," said the Vancouver Canucks defenceman. "He's got more skill than me. He's a forward."

That's Salo. Quick of wit and long on perseverance.

Salo knows he wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for his late father Toivo. He succumbed to cancer in 1995 and not a day goes by where Salo doesn't recall the sacrifices his father made to ensure that even after a long day in the steel mill, he would find time to take his boy to the rink and instruct him in every aspect of the game.

"He put his work aside and was our trainer in junior, too," recalled Salo. "Once I had a chance to play pro hockey, he was diagnosed with cancer and after the new year, he passed away quickly in just two months. He didn't have a chance to see me play any pro games and we actually wound up winning that year, so it was obviously a disappointment.

"He would be proud of me. All the hard work he put in and all the instruction that was drilled into me growing up has paid off. I'm sure he'll be watching up there somewhere."

Few travel a straight line in their careers. Salo's path has been a long and winding road with too many twists and turns. That road appeared to hit a dead end July 22 when he suffered an Achilles tendon rupture while playing floorball in his native Finland. A positive prognosis was at least six months to rehab such a debilitating injury, but the reality was that Salo's quest for a Stanley Cup could have ended before it even began. His 40th career injury was thought to be the final injustice. "